Amid a tax investigation into the India activities of UK broadcaster BBC, the US government declined to "offer a judgment".
The Joe Biden administration is aware of the searches at BBC's offices, but not in a position to offer judgement, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on 14 February 2023.
He added that beyond this action, he'll make a "general point more broadly" about the importance of free press around the world. Price said that free press has strengthened Indian and American democracies.
The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the British Broadcasting Corporation's offices in Delhi and Mumbai. The surprise action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and India.
Tax officials said the department is looking at documents related to the business operations of the company and those related to its Indian arm.
(With PTI inputs)
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